Defendant in Barto case placed into ARD

June 19, 2018News Extra

Justin Johnson, 19, of Butler, was the fourth person charged in relation to the death of Melissa Barto.

A Butler man, charged with providing a false alibi for the alleged shooter in the homicide of a 26-year-old woman, was placed into the county Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program on Tuesday.

Justin M. Johnson, 20, was placed into the program for two years with the possibility to have probation terminated after a year if all costs are paid off and he is on good behavior, on charges of felony hindering apprehension and misdemeanor false reports to law enforcement authorities. He was also ordered to complete community service and undergo any evaluations and treatments deemed fit by the Butler County Adult Probation Office.

Johnson was charged in connection with the June 8 shooting death of Melissa Barto on June 8, 2017, after Pennsylvania State Police said Johnson provided officers with a false alibi for alleged shooter Ishemer Ramsey, 21, of Lyndora.

Prosecutors previously revealed that Johnson received text messages and pictures from Ramsey, including an image of Barto's dead body, before providing the alibi.

“We believe this is an appropriate plea due to his minimal involvement in this case,” sad Johnson's attorney, Patrick Casey.